Moving
Moving checklist: an 8-week timeline from packing to unpacking
Moves rarely go wrong because of one big mistake. They go wrong because a dozen small tasks pile into the last three days: the truck that is sold out, the internet that cannot be installed for two weeks, the box of chargers that vanished. Spread the work over eight weeks and moving day becomes mostly lifting.
Eight weeks out: decide and book
Choose how you will move. Doing it yourself with a rented truck and friends costs less but takes your time and energy. Full-service movers cost more but handle the lifting. A middle option is a moving container you pack while the company drives it. Get at least two or three written estimates. For interstate moves, check each company's USDOT number and complaint history with the FMCSA before booking.
Six weeks out: sort and measure
Go room by room and decide what to keep, sell, donate or throw away. Every item you do not move saves boxes, time and, with movers, money. Measure large furniture and the new place's doorways and stairs, so you know what will fit.
Four weeks out: supplies and services
- Collect boxes, tape, markers and padding. Liquor stores and local marketplaces often have free boxes.
- Arrange for utilities at the new home to start the day before or the day you arrive. Internet installation can take a while, so schedule it now.
- Set the stop date for utilities at the old place for the day after you leave.
- If you rent, give notice as your lease requires and book a move-out walkthrough.
Two weeks out: pack room by room
Start with rooms and items you use least: guest rooms, books, decorations, off-season clothes. Label each box with the room it is going to and a short list of contents. Number boxes and keep a list on your phone. Pack heavy items in small boxes and light items in large ones.
One week out: addresses and essentials
- Submit a USPS change of address if you have not already; USPS asks for at least 7 to 10 business days after approval.
- Update your address with your bank, employer, insurance and phone carrier.
- Refill prescriptions so you have enough for the first weeks.
- Pack a first-night box and keep it with you, not on the truck.
- Confirm the truck or movers, the date, the time and the address in writing.
Moving day
Photograph the old place empty and clean. Check every closet, cabinet and drawer. Take meter photos if you are responsible for utilities. At the new place, photograph each room before unloading, then direct boxes to rooms using your labels. Keep valuables, documents and medications with you.
Avoid moving scams
Warning signs include a very low estimate by phone without an inventory, a demand for a large cash deposit, a company with no physical address or USDOT number for an interstate move, and a mover who changes the price after loading your belongings and refuses to unload until you pay more. Read every document before signing, and never sign a blank or incomplete form.
The first week after
Unpack the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom first. Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, find the breaker panel and water shutoff, and change the locks or ask your landlord to rekey them if you own or are allowed. Then update your driver's license and voter registration as your new state and county require, and register your car if you moved states.
Keep track of moving costs
Write down every moving expense as you go: the truck, gas, boxes, movers and any temporary storage. Seeing the total helps you plan the next move better, and some employers reimburse moving costs if you moved for a new job, so ask human resources before you pay.
If you have less than eight weeks
Compress the plan rather than skipping steps. Book the truck or movers and schedule internet on day one, because those have the longest waits. Then pack the least-used rooms first and do the address changes the same week. A short timeline makes the first-night box even more important.
Moving week essentials
Tick items as you go. Ticks stay on this page only and clear when you leave.
Questions people ask
When should I book movers?
Book as early as you can once you know your date, and at least several weeks ahead. Weekends, month ends and summer are busiest, so book further ahead for those dates.
How do I check a moving company?
For interstate moves, look up the mover's USDOT number on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration site. Get a written estimate, and be wary of large up-front deposits or estimates given without seeing your belongings.
How long does mail forwarding last?
USPS says standard mail forwarding lasts 12 months, and a request takes at least 7 to 10 business days to start after approval. Banks and government agencies often block forwarding of sensitive mail such as cards and IDs, so update your address with them directly.
What should I pack last?
A first-night box: medications, chargers, toiletries, a change of clothes, bedding, toilet paper, a few tools, snacks, important documents and pet supplies.